Which place is cheaper, Ponce or New Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New Bern or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit New Bern or Ponce? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: New Bern or Ponce?
New Bern
New Bern is a town in the coastal region of North Carolina. The town, which has a population of about 30,000, is the county seat of Craven County. It sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers close to the North Carolina coast, although there is no coastline in town. The town makes a nice daytrip from Raleigh, which is 112 miles away, and Wilmington, which is 87 miles away. It's also 162 miles from Norfolk, Virginia.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew Bern $140Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in New Bern is $140, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New Bern and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew Bern $76Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew Bern $152Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in New Bern and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in New Bern or Ponce? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New Bern Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New Bern $34Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into New Bern or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and New Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNew Bern $41Ponce $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New Bern $26Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew Bern $30Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is New Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since New Bern is in North America and Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to New Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Bern and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in New Bern.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Bern Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New Bern or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Ponce, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit New Bern or Ponce?
New Bern has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit New Bern or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Ponce. Many visitors come to New Bern in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, New Bern is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Ponce. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew Bern 80°F (27°C)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Ponce. Most visitors come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In October, New Bern is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Ponce. New Bern usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew Bern 65°F (18°C)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to New Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
New Bern is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in New Bern. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Ponce. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew Bern 44°F (7°C)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit New Bern or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and New Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. The small town charm are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the spring, New Bern is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
New Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ponce. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew Bern 62°F (16°C)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and New Bern
| New Bern | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 62°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (25°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 80°F (27°C) | 6.6 inches (169 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 79°F (26°C) | 7.6 inches (192 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 65°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.